2010 Octubafest dedicated to the memory of Harvey Phillips

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Brass Department presents the 2010 Octubafest, beginning Wednesday, Oct. 27 and running through Oct. 31, when an Octobaween concert will be performed at 7 p.m. in Ford-Crawford Hall. The series of concerts by Jacobs School of Music students offers a wide variety of performances on the tuba and the euphonium and will be dedicated to the memory of tuba pioneer, Distinguished Professor Emeritus Harvey Phillips, who passed away last week.

Established in 1974 at Indiana University by Phillips in honor of his teacher William Bell, the annual Octubafest has become a widely celebrated concert series, with multiple performances at universities and communities around the United States.

"It's especially meaningful to have the first performance of the 2010 Octubafest on the day of Harvey Phillip's memorial service this Wednesday," said Daniel Perantoni, professor of tuba at the Jacobs School. "He was our mentor, and we all feel a deep sense of gratitude to him for all he did, both personally and professionally. We will have Harvey close to us in spirit."

Distinguished Professor Emeritus Harvey Phillips performed as tuba soloist throughout the world. His music career began as a teenager with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Band. From 1950-71 he maintained an enviable freelance career in New York City, performing, recording and broadcasting with famous artists, conductors, bands and orchestras. In 1954, he was a founding member of the New York Brass Quintet. He served as personnel manager for Symphony of the Air, Leopold Stokowski, Igor Stravinsky, and Gunther Schuller. He was New England Conservatory vice president for financial affairs (1967-71). In 1971, he was appointed to the Indiana University faculty, a position he held until his retirement in 1994. For 10 years (1986-96), he served as executive editor of The Instrumentalist magazine.

Phillips was founder and president of the Harvey Phillips Foundation, Inc., which administered Octubafest, Tubachristmas, Tubasantas, Tubacompany and Tubajazz.

Harvey Phillips was highly-regarded in the musician and tuba communities because his efforts brought the tuba to a much wider audience. He played many different forms of music in his career, showing many new possibilities for the tuba, and encouraging many younger players to become soloists and to take the instrument in new directions.

In 2007, Phillips was inducted into the Classical Music Hall of Fame, the only wind instrument player to receive the prestigious honor. In September 2008, he received the Indiana University President's Medal for Excellence, one of the highest honors an IU president can bestow.